James Rodriguez looks set to leave Everton in the January transfer window having not played a single minute of the season under Rafael Benitez. The 30-year-old impressed fans of the Toffees under Carlo Ancelotti last season, managing six goals and nine assists in 26 matches, but seems to have been discouraged by the Italian’s departure to Real Madrid, leaving the Colombian surplus to requirements.
The Colombian star has been subject to interest from Turkish clubs, with Istanbul Basaksehir reportedly having a contract offer turned down for the 30-year-old. Reports suggest that the Colombian would need some convincing to join them as they’re currently second bottom of the Turkish Super Lig with no points from their first four matches.
Galatasaray are a side that have a recent history of signing Colombian players, having recently let go of Radamel Falcao to Rayo Vallecano on a free transfer. Galatasaray haven’t won the Turkish league title since the 2018/19 season and could potentially opt to try and sign the Colombian, whilst champions Besiktas could also be interested following the acquisitions of Michy Batshuayi, Alex Texeira and Miralem Pjanic.
FC Porto come second on this list of clubs that are interested in Rodriguez’s signature.
The 30-year-old played for Porto between 2010 and 2013, winning a treble with them in 2011 under Andre Villas-Boas which included the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Taca de Portugal and the UEFA Europa League in a season where they dropped just six points out of the 90 available to them.
Rodriguez is well thought of at Porto and was rumoured to be part of an attempted swap deal manufactured by Everton for fellow Colombian Luis Diaz, who plays as a left-winger, a much need position for the Toffees at the time prior to Demarai Gray’s signature.
AC Milan are also rumoured to be interested in Rodriguez’s signature in January.
The Rossoneri saw Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu depart on a free transfer to bitter rivals Inter Milan early on in the summer transfer window and are yet to replace the former Bayer Leverkusen man, who was typically known for being a wide playmaker, alike James and a good free-kick taker.
With the Colombian’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, he will be available for a cut-price fee in January and having shown his ability at times for Everton last season, he would be a useful addition to Stefano Pioli’s squad.
Rodriguez is priced at 10/1 to sign for AC in the January transfer window.
Ancelotti is rumoured to be interested in managing Rodriguez for a fourth time, having managed him at Real, Bayern Munich and Everton.
At present, Real only have one player who can play naturally in-behind a striker in Isco following the sale of Martin Odegaard to Arsenal. Ancelotti has brought out some of James’ best career form, especially in the 2014/15 season where he scored 17 and assisted 18 in 46 appearances for the Spanish giants and in the current economic market at such a cheap fee, the Italian manager could be tempted to reunite with Rodriguez.
Ancelotti is priced at 12/1 to sign Rodriguez for a fourth time in his career.
Atletico Madrid are the final club to feature on this list, as Diego Simeone is reportedly still looking to add creativity to his squad.
So far this season, Atleti have earned 10 points from four matches in less than convincing fashion, scoring seven times, which is already six fewer goals than the likes of Real. Last season, Atletico’s game style was unsuccessful against opponents such as Chelsea in the Champions League, as they created virtually nothing over the course of two legs, and scored 67 league goals, which means that they were heavily reliant on their defence.
Once again, at a cut-price fee and having missed out on the likes of Bernardo Silva in the summer transfer window due to the price that Manchester City were demanding, the signature of James could be useful contingency plan if he is able to replicate his previous form from his time in Spain.